VEF Riga adds size with Sims

VEF Riga bolstered its frontcourt for the upcoming Turkish Airlines Euroleague Qualifying Rounds by inking big man Courtney Sims to a one-year deal, the club announced Wednesday. Sims (2.11 meters, 27 years old) arrives from DongGuan New Century Leopards, where he averaged 19 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in 7 Chinese League games last season. He had started the 2010-11 season with Iowa, averaging 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds in 43 NBA Development League games before joining DongGuan. Sims has also played for Spirou Charleroi in Belgium, Capitanes de Arecibo in Puerto Rico, CSKA Moscow in Russia - for just one Euroleague game -, as well as for Indiana, Phoenix and New York in the NBA. Sims helped Spirou to win the Belgian League title in 2010, lifted the NIT Tournament trophy with the University of Michigan in 2004 and was chosen as the NBDL Player of the Year in 2009.